Chelsea have been given a specific date by which a deal for Roma defender MehdiBenatia must be completed, while aspiring Blues star Josh McEachran is farmed out on loan to Vitesse Arnhem.

Jose Mourinho has added talent in all areas of his squad this summer, but if Benatia is to become a part of the west Londoners' cause, he has to sign by the end of the week, according to the Mirror's Neil McLeman.

And with the 2014-15 Serie A season set to begin in just over a week's time, Roma chief executive ItaloZanzi is quoted by Football Italia in giving a somewhat ambiguous view on Benatia's chances of leaving:

Mehdi is our player. According to some media sources he had already been sold, but instead he is training with us in a very professional manner. It’s a shame about all these rumours. He is a great person and is behaving in the best possible way.

The transfer market is dynamic, as until September 1 we will evaluate every opportunity and ensure we are ready.

Mourinho already has a fine selection of central defenders at his disposal, but John Terry's one-year deal will expire at the end of this season, and it's foreseeable that the club should seek a replacement.

Along with the English stalwart, Gary Cahill, Kurt Zouma, BranislavIvanovic, Andreas Christensen and Nathan Ake will look to ensure David Luiz's £50 million move to Paris Saint-Germain doesn't have a damaging effect at Chelsea.

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In terms of outbound talent, McEachran won't be contending for a first-team place at Stamford Bridge this season upon completing a loan switch to Eredivisie giants Vitesse Arnhem.

Chelsea confirmed the news through the official club website, wishing the youth product well as he gets another chance at first-team minutes.

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Vitesse are the fifth club McEachran has joined on temporary terms in the past four seasons, the youngster still failing to make any genuine surge into the Blues' senior ranks.

Some might be tempted to blame Chelsea for that state of perpetual loan time, but Martin Lipton argues that perhaps McEachran's lack of prominence is in some way his own fault: